Used bookstores in Milwaukee

Other than buying new books at a deep
discount over the internet, there's hardly a better way to acquire both new and
used books than by visiting area used book stores. In the process of looking for
a particular title, you might be surprised what you find along the way.

My
esoteric friend and I, always attempting to explore the deeper intricacies of
what Milwaukee has to offer, recently spent a day visiting local used bookstores.
Here are a few you might want to check out on a rainy afternoon:

Constant
Reader Bookshop Ltd.1627 E. Irving Pl.
(414) 291-0452

This charming
little bookstore is nuzzled against East Side landmark, the Comet Coffee Shop.
While relatively quaint, this bookstore shouldn't be underestimated.

Whether
looking for a paperback copy of the old western "Shane" by Jack Schaefer, or a
first edition of "Curious George" by H. A. Rey in the Children's section, the
Constant Reader is a nice contrast to the hustle-and-bustle of larger book retailers.

If
nothing else, take a bounce around the thick shag carpeting and buy a book that
will keep you away from the satellite dish for a day or two. You may just find
a diamond in the rough.

Don't be turned off by the airport location. This bookstore offers
FREE parking (up to two hours) in the airport's parking structure with a minimum
$5 purchase. Whether you're dropping somebody off, picking somebody up, or just
making a special stop, don't overlook this immense collection of 60,000 volumes,
including new books, used books, magazines, comic books, etc.

This particular
location is the airport branch of the five-story warehouse store, located in downtown
Milwaukee, and offers books covering a wide range of subjects such as aviation,
railroads, travel, and Wisconsin history. This store also boasts sizeable fiction
and nonfiction catalogs, as well as numerous backlogged volumes of Life
and National Geographic magazines.

This bookstore is open seven days
a week from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. While credit cards aren't accepted
as means of payment, personal and traveler's checks are more than welcome.

Renaissance
Book Shop834 N. Plankinton Av.
(414) 271-6850

With a catalog that
boasts somewhere between 250,00 and 500,000 volumes, a trip to Renaissance's downtown
location can be a bit intimidating at first. A few simple suggestions first: clear
your schedule, wear comfortable shoes and don't wear a watch!

The pitched,
scuffed hardwood floors have seen better days, and large chunks of chipped white
paint are falling from the rusted tin ceiling of the old storefront. Both add
to the bookstore's charming personality and your transcending shopping experience.

While
towering bookshelves engulf you overhead, you'll find the selection and organization
quite impressive. "We try to cover a little bit of everything," said employee
Henry Smith. "Variety brings in a variety of people. People walk in and are in
awe. We beat some libraries in terms of what we've got."

When Smith says
"variety," he isn't kidding. A gander at the south wing of the second floor revealed
the largest collection of used paperbacks I have ever seen together in one place
at one time. Fiction, science fiction, westerns, true crime. You name it, chances
are they've got it.

A downtown staple since 1976, Renaissance Books still
contains an element of mystery for some. "People who live here don't know it's
here," Smith said. "When people think of book stores, they think of Walden's,
Schwartz, Barnes and Noble, etc. They think of malls, period."

Despite
the threat of technology and the Internet to stifle book sales and make bookstores
obsolete over the course of time, Smith clutches to his optimistic view. "As long
as people still love to read, we'll be in business."

Renaissance Books'
downtown location is open from noon to 7 p.m. (M-F), from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday,
and is closed Sundays.

Based on proximity, the Greenfield location
is my personal favorite. Whether you're looking for another $4 compact disc to
add to your music collection, or a bargain-basement deal on the next title on
your summer reading list, this is the place to go!

Children's books, romance
novels, craft books, true crime paperbacks, vinyl record albums, VHS videos, magazines,
rare and signed first editions. You name it, it's more than likely here. Take
a gander. You might be surprised what you'll find.

At all three locations
inventory changes on a daily basis, and frequent trips can net some pretty incredible
deals. If you're like me, and are trying to build a prestigious-looking bookshelf
without breaking the bank, this is the perfect place to start. Let the search
and seizure start today!

Bay View Bookshop2261 S. Howell Av.
(414)
744-0742

While the sign over the front-door of the business reads "Bay View
Antiquarian Books," owner George John simply calls his business Bay View Bookshop.
"It's less pretentious. (The name Antiquarian) is no good in this neighborhood.
People come in looking for tropical fish."

Surrounded by a collection of
books that is nearing 150,000 volumes, John says he is usually "too tired" to
do much reading anymore. "The work is endless. It has no beginning and no end."

Perusing
the store itself provides a very interesting experience. The creaky hardwood floor,
which hardly ever sees sunlight, seems to take you back in time. Bookshelves that
nearly reach the ceiling create endless aisles of books, almost seeming to scoff
at the claustrophobic. Sections titled Americana, mystery, science fiction, feminism,
philosophy take you to different worlds. The thick, earthy smell of the basement
with its dim fluorescent lighting invites you to discover a lost literary relic.

Having been in the book-selling business for more 30 years, and 10 years
at his current location, John feels he is treading water in a dying business.
"(The business) would be dead if it weren't for the Internet."

Bay View
Bookshop is open from noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and some Sunday
afternoons. The web address is http://www.abebooks.com/home/GOB/.

Downtown
Books327 E. Wisconsin Av.
(414) 276-5330

This bookstore
seems to grow in size every time I stop in. Recent expansion has added a back
room on the second floor, and plans are in the works to further expand above Walgreens,
which will eventually boost the amount of retail space to 10,000 square feet.

This
extremely clean and organized bookstore offers bright and vibrant lighting for
its endless mazes of nooks and crannies which offer clearly-marked mystery, thriller
and fiction sections, to name a few.

One can find Disney videos, regular
VHS videos and cassette tapes among the 250,000 general edition books, an entire
level tucked between the first and second floors devoted solely to back-issues
of National Geographic magazine, and a massive collection of comic books
on the second floor.

Downtown Books location is open from 9 a.m. to
7 p.m. (M-F), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
So pick a day, take an hour, plug the meter, and lose yourself in the wonderful
world of literature.

Talkbacks

I love the selection in The Downtown Bookstore, but I am turned off by the attitudes of the staff. They clearly think they have better things to do, and put me in mind of the stereotypical video rental employee who is just waiting for the chance to become a famous director. That said, I am not sure what I expect employees of a used bookstore to act like, and only have to deal with them when I pay for the books.

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